InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Not the Only One ❯ Round in circles ( Chapter 7 )

{I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. That pleasure belongs to their rightful owners, Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi!}

Hey mina-san!

I'm on a long weekend starting today! So that's why this update's so quick!

I'm glad we're all enjoying so far- I loving it as much as you are!

Keep up all the reviewing, you guys are the best!!

 

Important! For those who aren't too familiar with the YYH characters, I'll make a quick profile for the ones I'll be introducing instead of the usual arigatos!

 

Know the lingo!:

Gomen: sorry

Aa: yeah

Ano: Um

Hai: yes

Baka: idiot

Souka: I see

Goshinbuku: God tree

-kun: this is used for males, and suggests friendship. Males can use it for each other too, without any insinuations- for example; Kurama calls Kuawbara `Kuwabara-kun'

kami: god

mina-san: everyone

 

 

Chapter 7

Round in circles

 

Yoko's thoughts

Kurama/Kagome's thoughts

 

 

Kurama walked home in a daze- he bumped occasionally into random people and after giving a startled, “Gomen!” he was on his way again.

Lampost!

Kurama looked up in time to step smartly around the grey steel structure situated in the middle of the pavement.

Yoko sighed with relief, watching Kurama's state with amusement. He didn't have to say anything, as Kurama's head was already filled with thoughts.

We're home…

Kurama ran his hand through his ruffled hair, looking at the red bricked building as if he had never seen it before. He managed to find his keys, and walked up the stairs, remembering with a smile how he had carried Kagome up them only a few hours before.

I think more few hours, Shuuichi. You do realise it took us a little under four hours to get home.

Kurama frowned.

Are you sure? It's only about half an hour's walk between her and Kagome's house…

Yoko chuckled. Hai, it should have been…

Kurama closed the door slowly. Had it really been four hours? It didn't seem that long. Yet the living room was dark, and Kurama realised he had to turn on the lights.

Oh…maybe it was four hours then…

Yoko smiled as Kurama pottered into the kitchenette, pouring water into a glass from the tap. As the glass chinked against his teeth, Yoko spoke.

You know, I think this is the first time we've both fallen for the same girl.

Kurama choked, swallowing his water the wrong way. He coughed, spluttering as he tried to clear his windpipe.

What are you talking about? I haven't fallen for anyone!

Oh my- there's Kagome!

Where?!

Kurama's emerald eyes scanned the room before realising what he had done.

Oh, very good Yoko. Very mature.

Well, I proved my point, didn't I?

Kurama sank with a sigh onto his couch, letting the cushions accept his weight.

I've never felt this way about a girl before, Yoko. It's kind of…strange.

I know.

Kurama buried his face in his hands, closing his eyes.

And it's too complicated, Yoko! She's in love with the hanyou, Inuyasha- she's caught in a love triangle already! And with you kissing her every five seconds in the past…

I'm a generous guy, Shuuichi. I'm willing to share…

Kurama couldn't help but gasp as everything that was happening to Yoko at that moment in the past flashed through his head. Of course, to Yoko, these were memories- though new ones. But to the silver kitune residing inside a human's body, it didn't feel that way. To him, it felt similar to the feeling of finding an old photograph and rediscovering something you had once forgotten.

To Kurama, it was all new, and he watched Kagome with the bandits, Yoko's `rescue', and Inuyasha's entrance. By the end, Kurama was exhausted, as if he had been living the memories himself.

Well, you certainly don't mind creating complications, Yoko…

Of course I don't. It's hardly as if she was pushing me away, anyway! We are one now, Shuuichi; she won't push you away either.

Kurama sighed again, rubbing his forehead wearily.

Maybe, but I'm not like you, Yoko. I don't find Kagome attractive just for her body…

Yoko simply chuckled and smirked in Kurama's mind

I know. You were always more…sensitive, Shuuichi. Which perhaps explains why you have still yet to be in a relationship with a girl?

Yoko, I've not had time for girls, in case you didn't notice.

Oh, believe me, I've noticed. I've suffered for it too!

Oh, here we go…

Shush. Can't you see? I think we're exactly what Kagome needs!

Yoko didn't get to finish his spiel, because at that moment there was a tap at Kurama's window.

 

 

“Kurama, it's me! Open up!”

The kitsune avatar got to his feet quickly, popping the latch on the bay window and opening it out as wide as it could go.

“Hello there,” he smiled, as the blue-haired Botan flew into the room on her oar.

She jumped off as soon as she entered the room, her pink kimono floating behind her to the carpet.

“Kurama!” Botan chirped, clearly annoyed, “Where have been? I've been floating around this block for ages!”

“Gomen,” Kurama sat on the window seat, “I was out,”

“You don't say,” Botan's pink eyes suddenly widened, “Where you with that girl?”

“Aa,” Kurama admitted, laughing at Botan's shocked expression.

“But, Kurama, you do know what she is? I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but now I'm sure- what I felt this morning was miko magic!”

“I know,” Kurama replied, wondering how much he should tell Botan,

“I recognised the aura, which is why I wanted to talk to her- she could sense something from me too,”

Or she just said your name aloud…

“That's probably because she's very powerful,” Botan paused, putting her finger to her lip,

“Though, I don't know if she knows it yet. Anyway, Koenma said-”

“You told Koenma?” Kurama interrupted, his eyes wide in disbelief.

“Of course!” Botan frowned slightly at Kurama's reaction, “She could be dangerous, especially in your case, Kurama!”

Funnily enough, she could be right- though not for those reasons…

“Kagome wouldn't hurt a fly!” Kurama argued angrily, “What did Koenma say?”

“Ano,” Botan's fingers played with her long kimono sleeves, nervous at the unusual look in Kurama's eyes.

“It turns out he knows about her. She travels to the past, around the Sengoku Jidai pierod, and is on a mission to repair the broken shikon-no-tama. Koenma's been keeping an eye on her,”

“Oh,” Kurama said, relieved.

For a minute, I thought he would be pulling her in for a good telling to…

“You don't seem very surprised,” Botan said suspiciously.

“I already know what she does,” Kurama explained, “We talked,”

“Souka,” Botan clucked her tongue as a beeping sound went off suddenly from beneath the folds of her kimono. She delved into her pocket, turning off the small device.

“Well, it was nice seeing you, Kurama. We'll need to do this again soon!”

“Of course,” Kurama got up from the window seat, and Botan gave him a hug.

“Be careful,” she whispered, “That girl has a lot ahead of her. I don't think you should get involved,”

Kurama watched her summon the oar, before she disappeared into the black night sky.

It's already too late, Botan…

 

 

The pair continued to walk in silence through the forest, the only sound present being the chirping of the night creatures and the crunch of branches beneath their feet.

He's angry, Kagome thought worriedly, really angry. Any minute now…

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, he was opening his mouth, his golden eyes sparking.

“Why the hell were you in the part of the forest anyway?!?”

Here we go…

“I thought you knew that already,” Kagome replied testily, “That girl was in danger!”

“That doesn't mean you go and charge in, completely defenceless!”

Inuyasha had stopped, grabbing Kagome's arm to halt her from walking any further. It was getting dark, and Kagome squinted to make out the emotions in his eyes.

“What if that kitsune hadn't been there? Do you have nay idea what those men would have done to you?”

“I know, Inuyasha!” Kagome shouted back, wrenching her hand away, “That's why you were supposed to be there!”

“I'm here to protect you from the battles we're involved in! Not any unnecessary danger you fling yourself into when you go on these rescue trips! That's the second time in one day Kagome! Do you even have a brain?”

“What did you want me to do? Would you rather I just let Shippo get killed or that innocent girl get raped? You might have been able to have live with it, but I couldn't have!”

Inuyasha opened his mouth, and then closed it again. His eyes still blazed down at her, and Kagome bit her lip, looking away.

“I would have been there,” Inuyasha said quietly, “But I was angry because you went off when you were still injured. And you were angry at me- I figured we needed time apart,”

Kagome blinked at Inuyasha's thoughtfulness- if that's what it could be called. Usually Inuyasha just shouted until Kagome finally had enough and `osuwari-ed' him until he saw things her way. Sighing a little, Kagome linked her arm through Inuyasha's. He started, but didn't pull back.

“I guess you're right,” Kagome said, as she began to walk, “I'm sorry Inuyasha,”

“You-you are?” he asked, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice.

“Hai,” Kagome said with a heavy heart.

I'm sorry for making you angry.

I'm sorry that I'm going behind your back…

And I'm sorry that you can't apologise, too.

 

 

Shippo had, of course, ploughed Kagome with questions when Inuyasha grumbled that she had `been with that kitsune'.

“Did you kiss him again?” Shippo piped up.

Inuyasha's eye twitched, and Kagome froze, swearing inwardly.

Just when I thought he'd forgot about that!

“Ano, Shippo-chan,” Sango said, breaking the tension, “Don't be nosey-”

“Kiss? What kiss?”

“Houshi-sama!”

“I'm going to bed,” Kagome muttered, raising her eyebrows at Sango, in a clear `I'll tell you later' sign.

Kagome straightened her sleeping bag that was still rumpled from her early escape that morning.

This morning…so much has happened in so little time…

Kagome ignored Miroku's excited whisperings, Sango's slaps and Inuyasha's growling. Just as she was about to drop off, she felt a warmth near her side as Shippo buried in beside her.

“Kagome?”

The miko turned over, nose to nose with the little kit.

“Gomen,” he said with large green eyes, “Did I get you in trouble?”

“Don't be daft!” Kagome ruffled the kit's hair, looking at him with a smile.

I wonder…when he's older, will he have his hair long, like Kurama?

Kagome was distracted as Shippo began to talk to her, and she watched with trepidation as he suddenly frowned.

He's a kitsune- maybe he can smell through the scentless petal!

“You smell different, Kagome,”

“Ano- I do?” Kagome looked nervously over to the others, but they were involved in a fight over the last ramen pot.

Shippo followed Kagome's gaze, and brought his mouth close to Kagome's ear.

“I can smell a strange scent- it's almost like Yoko's, but more…”

“Human?” Kagome added, keeping one eye on the loudly bickering group.

“Hai,” Shippo furrowed his brow, “But it's really covered up- I can't describe it. It's almost like that perfumery stuff you sometimes wear- but there's no scent!”

“It's the scentless petal plant,” Kagome whispered, watching as Shippo's eyes grew wide.

“But…how? You have to be a really strong kitsune to develop that- even my father couldn't!”

Kagome contemplated what to tell him.

After all, Inuyasha's going to find out soon that Kurama isn't all human.

“I don't know if Inuyasha told you,” Kagome said, “But my friend, the one who healed my wounds, is called Kurama,”

“Kurama,” Shippo mouthed, his child eyes growing to large proportions, “Yoko Kurama?”

Kagome couldn't help but smile at Shippo's quickness.

“Hai- Yoko Kurama is trapped in my friend's body, in the future,”

“Wow,” Shippo slid his eyes to Inuyasha, who was currently trying to strangle Miroku, “Does he know?”

“Not yet,” Kagome pet Shippo's hair lovingly, “So let's just keep this a secret between the two of us, alright?”

Shippo nodded, delighted at being trusted with another secret, “Yup!”

“Kitsune promise?” added Kagome mischievously, and Shippo gasped.

“How do you know about that?”

“I know everything,” Kagome giggled with a wink.

“Well, you don't have a tail,” Shippo pointed out, “But we could do this…”

He stuck out his pinky, and Kagome caught on, hooking her pinky around his.

“In the West, children do this to seal promises,” Kagome added as they shook fingers.

“Really?” Shippo asked interestedly, “Is that the place where eat `fries' instead of rice?”

“Hai,” Kagome laughed, “I'll tell you more about it later, alright? Let's go to sleep now,”

As the two snuggled down, the kitsune avatar stayed on Kagome's mind.

 

 

“Oof!” Kagome hefted herself over the lip of the well with a gasp. Her bag was empty, having stayed in the past for three days, but she had gone over her ankle the day before, and despite Kaede's herbs, it was still giving her jip.

They had been in a battle with a particularly fierce youkai that had a shikon shard. Kagome cursed Naraku under her breath as she stood up and walked up the well house stairs with a slight limp.

The final battle had occurred less than a month ago, yet it was as clear to Kagome's mind as the day before. Everyone had finally teamed up; Inuyasha, Kouga and Sesshomaru had launched a full scale attack, while Kagome, Sango and Miroku had helped when they could. The result was Naraku's downfall, yet before death had fully claimed him, he had shattered the shikon-no-tama, once again sending the shards the length and breadth of Japan. The inu-tachi had a small cluster of the shards, but the journey to complete the tama had begun again. Though there were differences; Miroku no longer had his wind tunnel, though he was still a formidable foe what with his wards and his staff; Sango was in deep mourning for her brother, but a weight was off her shoulders knowing his soul was at peace; and of course, the biggest difference, the one that pained Kagome the most.

Kikyo…

The undead miko had agreed that Inuyasha needed to collect the shikon shards once again. But she had made no reference to her claim on him, and Kagome lived in unease knowing her time with the hanyou could be counted with each shard they collected. Kikyo's visits had also been more regular, though secret.

Kagome sighed as she passed the Goshinbuku, stopping to sit in its shade to let her ankle rest. It was here she felt most close to Inuyasha in her own time, and her thoughts inevitably went to him.

If Kikyo just came during the day, and wanted to speak to him, I wouldn't mind- well…maybe I would, but she and Inuyasha have a relationship too, of sorts. I can't deny that. It's the creeping around that hurts the most! But Inuyasha, as usual, is trying to protect me, and in fact he's only hurting me more…

Kagome sighed as she rubbed her ankle, remembering fondly how Inuyasha had fussed over her when she had fallen. The youkai had just been dealt the death bow by the hanyou, but a mound of its flesh had clipped Kagome as the group had darted away from its swaying body, and she had taken a nasty tumble.

“Baka!” Inuyasha had said, as Kagome had sat up soon after, realising her leg was too wobbly to stand on, “You're a danger to yourself!”

But without any asking, he had picked her up bridal style and made sure he wasn't hurting her ankle.

Kagome played with some grass beneath her fingers, letting the blades tickle her palms.

He can be kind- and to his credit, he hasn't mentioned that kiss again…

Which was a miracle in itself, as Miroku had been asking about it every five seconds. Kagome had confessed all to Sango as she had strapped up her ankle, and the girl didn't seem as shocked as Kagome had thought she would have been.

“Well, fair enough,” Sango had said with a smile, “I've always said you were too nice about Inuyasha and his midnight meetings with Kikyo- you should show him what it's like!”

Kagome got up slowly, using the fence around the Goshinbuku for support. Inuyasha had wanted to bring her back, but Totosai had turned up with an urgent favour- and Kagome didn't want to wait to get home.

“Easy does it,” Kagome walked unsteadily across the shrine grounds, hoping no one would come to visit the gift shop at this particular moment.

Oh kami, I'm going to fall…

 

 

Kurama realised he was taking the long way to University. The really, really long way, which involved him going in a complete circle. But it also happened to pass by Kagome's house, so he found that was alright with him.

It had been three days. Three days since he had seen her, yet there hadn't been a moment went he had stopped thinking about her. He had realised they hadn't swapped numbers, and so his suggestion to meet up again was rather far fetched. So he was going to see if she was back yet. He knew she was still in the past, because, in the past, Yoko was keeping an eye on her, and Kurama had access to all these memories. He simply lay on his bed, watching snatched glimpses of her through Yoko's eyes. Then the University had phoned, and Kurama remembered he had a life.

So he had got up and treated himself to a shower, spending more time than usual washing his hair. He had dressed carefully, in a green shirt with a white tee underneath, and a pair of black jeans.

Kurama felt the nerves build up as he walked towards her house. Kurama and nervous weren't words usually found in the same sentence. He was the image of cool, and one of his best abilities was keeping calm in a crisis.

But that was the problem- there was no problem, no crisis, no enemy facing him down, no cryptic code to work out. There was a girl, albeit a magical, beautiful girl, who not only fired up his interest, but also his desire.

Kurama had passion for many things in life- but never before for a girl.

What do you think she's going to do? Bite?

Actually, if you're lucky…

Yoko, please. I'm trying to keep all your perverted thoughts out of my mind, not invite new ones in!

He had arrived at the steps.

There's nothing wrong with this, right? I said I wanted to meet. I'll just pop in and see how she's doing. That's fair enough, isn't it?

Don't ask if you already know the answer…

 

 

Kurama walked up the steps, glancing at his watch. He knew now, thanks to Yoko, that Kagome had left the past.

So, she could be on her way to school, unless she's bunking off again…

Kurama's heart went up a notch as he saw who was on the shrine grounds. Kagome was under the largest tree, just getting up as Kurama reached the last step. He remained still, wondering if she would notice him, or if he would have to make her.

He was about to call out, when she began to shuffle across the grounds, looking as if her legs were made of lead.

What is she doing?

Dancing?

Kurama began to walk towards her, and he could see her mumbling under her breath.

She's going to…

Fall!

Kurama darted forward in the nick of time, wrapping her arm around her stomach and pulling her back upright. Kagome had let out a squeak of surprise, and now she turned, her saviour's arm still around her waist.

“Kurama-kun!” Kagome uttered in shock, her pupils still dilated from her near-fall.

Kurama couldn't help the warmth spreading though his bones as she spoke to him to affectionately.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his eyebrows raised, “Have you hurt yourself?”

Again?

“Just a little,” Kagome blushed, “You must think I'm a total klutz. I've only went over my ankle,”

“More youkai?” asked Kurama, still holding the girl.

“Hai,” Kagome smiled brightly, “But we got a jewel shard, so it wasn't in vain,”

“Good,” laughed Kurama, and he suddenly realised he was still holding her. He let go, making sure she was standing upright, and Kagome shook her head.

“Thanks for saving me,” Kagome smiled, “Should I say, again? I guess you'll know by now all about what happened on the other side?”

“Aa,” Kurama ran a hand through his hair, “I'd like to say I was shocked by Yoko's behaviour, but unfortunately I would be lying,”

Kagome giggled, mirroring Kurama's move by playing with a stray curl.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Well, I just wanted to see how you were doing, and…do you have any plans tonight? I have to go to University just now, but maybe I could pick you up after school?”

Kagome blinked in surprise.

“Oh! That sounds great! I'm just going to freshen up then I'll be on my way- what time does your class start?”

“About half ten,”

“Good,” Kagome laughed, linking her arm through his, “You can walk me to school then!”

 

 

YYH Characters:[some info taken from Wikipedia]

Kurama/Minamino Shuuichi/Yoko Kurama: In his previous life, Shuuichi was an evil, cold hearted and ruthless Kitsune thief known as Yoko Kurama, the most feared bandit in Makai. After a botched thievery in Makai in which Yoko was badly injured he escaped into an unborn embryo of a woman in the Ningenkai and later was born as human child Shuuichi Minamino. He received so much love and care from his human mother and this turned him into a very kind, gentle and noble young boy.

Botan: The guide for the dead across the River Styx, Botan is hardly typical of what one would expect from the Grim Reaper; clad in a bright pink kimono, her blue hair in a ponytail. Botan is cheerful, sometimes sarcastic, and completely atypical version of Death.

Urameshi Yusuke: The main character of Yu Yu Hakusho, Yusuke died after saving a young boy from being hit by a car. He gets his life back after sacrificing his only chance to awaken for his best friend, Keiko. Yusuke is made a Spirit Detective by Koenma, (the son of the ruler of Rekai) and has to save the world from youkai.

Kazuma Kuwabara: Kuwabara, as most people call him, is the second-toughest kid in Sarayashiki High School and is always trying to usurpYusuke Urameshi's position as the strongest. He has a soft spot for kittens and an iron code of honor. He harbors an enormous crush on the ice apparition Yukina, but is unaware that she is Hiei's sister.

(Jaganshi)Hiei: Hiei is a hybrid fire and ice youkai. He has some pyrokinetic powers, which grants him amazing resitance to extreme temperatures cold, ice based attacks, and even those of fire as well. He is known as the Forbidden One because he is a male fire demon born to a koorime (ice maiden), who are all females. He was born male because his mother interacted with a male outside the isolationist koorime community. After being cast out as an infant, he was raised by a gang of bandits. He possesses a third eye in the middle of his forehead, called a Jagan (evil eye). He also has a sister Yukina, but he doesn't want her to know they're related. While looking for her, Hiei's search eventually took him to the Ningenkai and it was during this time that he first met Kurama. This took him from his quest briefly, in the form of planned robbery of Rekai's artifact vault. Together with another demon named Gouki, the three stole three dangerous weapons from the Reikai and became the targets of Yusuke Urameshi's first case.

Yukina: Yukina was born as a koorime, but with a twin brother Hiei. Her twin brother was the forbidden child who was never supposed to exist, and was "killed" by being thrown off a cliff, despite his mother's desperate pleas. However, Yukina grew up to search for her twin brother, in full hopes that he was still alive.

Yukimura Keiko: Keiko has been the childhood friend of Yusuke Urameshi since elementary school. By the time they are students at Sarayashiki High School, Yusuke is a juvenile delinquent and the toughest pupil at school, while Keiko is a straight-A student and her personality is the opposite of that of Yusuke's. This doesn't stop their friendship; Yusuke and Keiko are closer to each other than they would like to admit.

 

Hope that helped! These are some of the characters who'll be appearing, and I knew some of you aren't familiar with YYH, so I hoped this helped!

I'll post last chapter's replies with next chapters! Arigato as always to all those who've reviewed!